Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 44 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Volvo S60, and it carries 4 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tires | 5 | 11% |
| Fuel system | 4 | 9% |
| Unknown or other | 3 | 7% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 7% |
| Structure | 3 | 7% |
| Engine | 2 | 5% |
| Fuel system | 2 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 5% |
| Steering | 2 | 5% |
| Seats | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
While I was driving I felt very hot under my buttock than I heard it pop and burst, I pulled over to check, oh my got (OMG) thanks God I'm safe! There was a burn on my car seat!
NHTSA complaint: Seats
ANGLE/COLLAR GEAR/SLEEVE, HALDEX AWD. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AWD VOLVOS HAVE THIS ISSUE YET VOLVO HAS NEVER TAKEN ACTION OR RECALLED PART. THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY ISSUES THOUSANDS OF VOLVO'S HAVE. BUT THE AWD SYSTEM N
NHTSA complaint: Power train
MY SEAT BELT GOT STUCK IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE . NOW I'M GETTING A SERVICE MESSAGE ABOUT THE SRS SERVICE URGENT I DON'T KNOW WHY IT GOT STUCK BUT IT DID I CAN'T GET IT OUT OF SEAT BELT CLIP .
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
APPLIED BRAKE, ENGINE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES RAPIDLY BEFORE THE ENGINE DECELERATED. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S60. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SRS AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED TEN MONTHS AGO. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. T
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S60. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED, BUT THE ENGINE STALLED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TO
NHTSA complaint: Engine
TRANSMISSION HAS HARD ERATIC SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND. THEN SECOND TO THIRD GEAR WITH OVER REVING BEFORE ENGAGING INTO GEAR. DRIVING AROUND CORNERS TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY SLIPS OUT OF GEAR, OVER REVS AND THEN LUNGE
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
TWICE NOW OVER A TEN DAY PERIOD FIRST WHEN REDUCING SPEED TO A STOP OR THEN AGAIN AT A SPEED OF LESS THAN 5 MPH, THE CAR DIED...FIRST THE ENGINE DIED THEN ALL ELSE DIED. THE CAR WENT DEAD. I STILL HAD MY STEERING AND SLO
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2005 Volvo S60. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2006 S80 and 2001-2009 S60 vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 29, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
Risk: AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
Fix: VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A N
CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11-3156, AND WITH DATE CODES LOWER THAN DCA7078 SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE SEAL ON MASTER CYLINDER CAN FAI
Risk: LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN RESULT IN POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: CARDONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE ANY DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDERS. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING APRIL 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CARDONE AT 1-800-777-4780.
CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THE LABEL DENOTING THE TIRE AND LOADING PRESSURE INFORMATION IS INCORRECT.
Risk: A MISPRINTED LABEL WOULD LEAD TO IMPROPER VEHICLE LOADING SPECIFICATIONS OR TIRE INFLATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN A TIRE FAILURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL MAIL THE CORRECT LABELS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
| Reliability raw | 79 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 74 | good |
| Maintenance | 68 | good |
| Depreciation | 59 | average |
| Performance | 67 | good |
| Efficiency | 36 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 44 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and tires is the most reported area with 5 of them (11%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 79/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 74/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2005 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 67/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.